Chicago Tribune: U.S. Refugee Cap Puts Hiring Practice At Risk

Eli's Cheesecake one of many emphasizing diverse employees, but future uncertain.

​After fleeing the war in her native Bosnia, Zemira Bajrektarevic arrived in Chicago to face a new set of fears.A stay-at-home mom of two children, Bajrektarevic didn’t know English. She didn’t know how she’d earn money. When RefugeeOne, a resettlement agency, placed her in a job at Eli’s Cheesecake, removing baked cakes from their pans, she didn’t know she possessed leadership qualities that would eventually make her an invaluable employee at the quintessential Chicago company.

Chicago Tribune: Refugees Agencies Under Siege

So far this year, a little more than 15,000 refugees have been admitted to the U.S., according to the State Department — the lowest in the country’s history amid the largest crisis of displaced people worldwide.

​“You're losing institutional knowledge, talent, the people who really developed the skill sets to carry out this work. And that will take years to build back up,” RefugeeOne’s Porter said.

VIDEO - RefugeeOne Reunites: The Story of Charles Safari

​​RefugeeOne continues to welcome and reunite refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution from around the globe. Refugee resettlement is critical for refugee families to be reunited, like the family of Charles Safari.

RefugeeOne resettled Charles, his wife, and their children in 2014. In April, we helped reunite him with his mother and sister after 3 years of separation.